GPC chairman Dr Laurence Buckman said the BMA would 'strongly oppose' any plans that would make GPs act as 'border force agents'.

The proposals are part of a cross-government consultation that aims to 'make it more difficult for illegal migrants to live in the UK unlawfully, and to ensure legal migrants make a fair contribution to our key public services'.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: 'We need to ensure that those residing in or visiting the UK are contributing to the system, but we want to implement a system that limits red tape for NHS professionals.'

DH PROPOSALS

Non-EU nationals in the UK for six months to five years may be charged £200 a year for NHS care including GP visits.

People visiting for less than six months already pay for secondary care and will now be charged for GP services.

They could be asked to pay a fee per consultation or an annual service fee.

Practices will have to record new patients' immigration status when they register.

GPs could be allowed to keep part of the fee.

The DH is consulting on possible future fees for A&E and emergency GP visits.

Proposals include a £200 annual NHS levy for people applying for UK visas who do not have private health insurance.

The government could impose further charges for GP visits on patients visiting the UK for less than six months, and has not ruled out asking practices to collect the fees.

Mr Hunt added: 'We are clear that the NHS is a national health service, not an international health service, and I am determined to cut out abuse in the system.'

Professor Gerada told the BBC the plans would increase the burden on doctors. 'My first duty is to my patient. I don't ask where they're from or whether they've got a credit card.'

The amount spent each year treating people who are ineligible amounted to just two hours of NHS spending, she added.

The NHS estimated in 2011/12 that it spent £33m treating foreign nationals, £21m of which was recovered, with £12m written off. The annual NHS budget is about £110bn.